Some of you may have noticed that I have not been adhering to the posting schedule I previously promised. I wish I could say I have a good excuse. My computer exploded, house burned down, and the NSA banned me from all public WiFi networks. These could be good excuses, but unfortunately, none of them are true. Instead, I got drunk, got the flu, and generally didn't feel like writing any posts. In addition, it's been busy down here at the Castle... but that is not good enough. I will strive for more consistent posting in the coming weeks.

The Cubs won the World Series.

Donald Trump is our president elect.

What in the fuck is going on? These events alone have been deemed symptoms of Armageddon in the past, and now America is set to face new challenges if we are to survive. I don't want to get too political here. To be honest, I hate discussing politics. I hate the dry, political correctness with which our politicians communicate (until Trump came along). In these times of feeling rubbed raw by our public servants, I turn to music as a form of rebellion. Short of protesting or petitioning to change the direction of leadership, noting can make you feel more disaffected than the right music. With such spirit, I present these politically outspoken artists and specific songs that I've been jamming in the past weeks.

Helmet

Formed in 1989, Helmet is said to be "Metal for the thinking person". If you are looking for alternative groove metal to numb your senses, inspire you further, and raise your pain tolerance, then look no farther. If you are driving across country and need musical motivation to finish the final 2 hours of your trek, the men of Helmet have your back.

Helmet are playing two shows in the US -- one of them at the Castle -- before traveling to Canada. They will be touring hard until March... bringing the Dead to the World Tour out of the country.

Seeing Helmet in the small, intimate room of the Castle Theatre will be high energy, loud, and most of all, metal. It's going to be a real treat for anyone living in the Midwest. This is not one to miss!

Stay tuned for Nonpoint and Red Fang. The opportunity to experience the rock is yours.

From now forward, expect to see a "News" or "Reviews" post twice weekly. One will be posted on Sunday before midnight, and the other will be posted on Wednesday before midnight. More than likely, these days will bring fresh photos as well, so stay tuned!

Now it's time for some Rock & Roll wisdom. Whether by accident or by choice, musicians spit acutely deep philosophy about life, pain, and success. It's time to listen up. Here are 10 quotes by musicians that would make Socrates proud.

"The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level. It's got to happen inside first." -- Jim Morrison

"Nobody dies a virgin, life fucks us all." -- Kurt Cobain

"Always have the highest bar for yourself. Wake up everyday and no matter how crappy you feel, want to change something for the better. Do something that makes you happy. Create something that inspires someone. Be someone's light when they are hopeless." -- Dave Grohl

"Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to our mediocre educational system. Go to the library and EDUCATE YOURSELF if you've got any guts." -- Frank Zappa

"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you." -- B.B. King

"Cats were put into the world to disprove the dogma that all things were created to serve man." -- Paul Gray

We are excited to announce a delightful album will be available at the end of this week. Flaccid, a band from Normal, IL, will be releasing their debut album at the Castle Theatre. Entitled All In, the album will blend rock, funk, and jazz improvisational influences into one big shebang. Nothing can hold back the tide of Flaccid.

To prep yourself for the new record, you can check out Flaccid's EP on bandcamp. Foreplay gets people pretty randy, so make sure to be in a private location when listening, away from schools. Wherever you're listening though, make sure to heed the band's advice and Stay Flaccid.

Flaccid currently consists of Nolan Kelly (guitar/vocals), Jack Kendrick (guitar/vocals), Kyle Woith (bass/vocals), Nick Ward (drums), and CJ Kelly (keys/vocals). These guys are two year Summer Camp music festival veterans, so you know they'll bring the heat. Now it's just up to the fans to join the party. Any way you sling it, these guys are going places. Flaccid takes the stage this Friday, the 16th of September!

This New Orleans funk/jam band was formed in 2003 when lead vocalist/keyboardist Ivan Neville gathered his cousin Ian Neville (guitar), Tony Hall (bass), Nick Daniels III (bass), and (now former drummer) Raymond Weber to play a solo gig at the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival. They have since replaced Weber with Alvin Ford Jr. Since forming the band has released three studio records and are currently signed to Red Hot Records. In 2014 Offbeat magazine voted them, “New Orleans Best Funk Band.” They have performed at big name festivals such as Bonnaroo, Dave Matthews Caravan, Electric Forest, and will be playing their twelfth consecutive year at the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival.

One can describe the bands sound as a combination of 80’s funk, jazz, with a hint of R&B and soul. With the power combination of a drummer and two bass players Dumpstaphunk is able to lay down some seriously funky beats that will make it near impossible to stand still. Accompanied by the delightful wah-wah guitar of Ian and fluid synth work of Ivan each track is driven forward with energy that is sure to send you dancing into the night. They will be joined by Midwestern funk group Steady Flow who just released their first album last year. Don't miss your chance to check out this array of fabulous funk musicians. Tickets are $20 in advance and $23 the day of the show. This is an all ages show. Doors 7pm, show starts at 8pm!

Chicago native Ronnie Baker Brooks comes from a musical family and has been a performer since the age of 9. Brooks is an American blues and soul guitarist, singer, and songwriter with a passion for music. He employs world-class technique to create his very own brand of Chicago-style blues while writing his own lyrics. Ronnie is carrying the family torch passed down from father, Lonnie, and shares it with his brother Wayne. The trio often performed together growing up, creating a natural performer in Ronnie with a cool and easy stage presence. Ronnie Baker Brooks shreds chorus after chorus of Chicago Blues, pouring his heart and soul into every bar of music. Touted as one of the great blues and soul guitarists, our audience will hear the virtuosic nature of his guitar riffs and solos. Brooks and his band will be cruising through Bloomington and the Castle Theatre Friday June 24th; Doors are at 7pm, and the Blues begins at 8pm! Tickets are $20 in advance or $23 at the door. Come out for a rockin' good time!

Folk rock, born in the enigmatic Nashville, is a timeless style. People will always show up for a refreshing good time, down to earth culture, and electrifying rhythms this genre offers. Modern Americana is becoming increasing experimental, possibly on the cusp of a new generation or evolution. At the bleeding edge of that mutation is Della Mae.

As of now, the group consists of Cella Woodsmith on vocals/guitar, Kimber Ludiker on fiddle/vocals, Jenni Lyn Gardner on mandolin/vocals, Courtney Hartman on guitar/banjo/vocals, and Zoe Guigueno on bass/vocals. When these ladies play together, they sound ultimately natural. It is as though they were on the same page during every step of the writing process. The vocal performances would be best described as free form and a bit raw. This is a good thing; it keeps them sounding strong on top of their soulful instrumentation, which is as tight knit as a Celtic knot.

The first thing that comes to mind when one hears mention of Della Mae's most recent work is continuity. These tracks have flow from one to another on the record. Even still, Della Mae breaks new ground as they continue to co-evolve as musicians. The group easily walks from blues, to folk, and then to rock without missing a beat. This is true to the spirit and expression of modern Americana. Then like a splash of ice water, along comes a groove that enamors the audience. Della Mae has always been able to produce an infectious pulse, but on their latest work the groove is highly emphasized.

The group gives tribute to producer Jacquire King. When a man's pedigree is responsible for the mixing of three Grammy Award winning albums, you know your work is in exceptional hands. Those three wins are impressive, but so are his thirty nominations. King has worked with some highly regarded artists: Modest Mouse, as well as Tom Waits and Buddy Guy.

“Empire” is a feast for the eyes and ears. It is evident that these artists enjoy playing as much as their loyal fans enjoy the performance. What's more is each musician receives equal space for expression. That fiddle riff is bomb, son!

While this recording is a couple years old, it shows the group in a different stage of their journey no less pertinent than their new work. A favorite part is how the song builds in the beginning before reaching its cruising altitude. To keep it fresh, some captivating syncopation occurs at the 2:10 mark. Della Mae will hit the Castle Theatre stage at 8:00pm on June 23rd. Accompanied by local guests Woodland Remedy, the night will be high energy and worthwhile for both longtime fans and new discoverers. By Bruce Ackley

Straight out of Nashville, Tennessee country artist Will Hoge will be performing right here in Bloomington next Thursday, June 9th. Recognized for his soulful and powerful lyrics combined with an equally impressive voice, and skillful guitar work will be sure to fulfill anyone’s musical palette. Hoge was discovered after releasing a live set CD recorded at the Exit/In club in Nashville Tennessee. He has since released ten studio albums and has toured with artists such as Shinedown, ZZ Top, and Marc Broussard. In addition to his credible touring roster, Hoge is also a Grammy nominated songwriter for the song “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” The chart topping hit was co-written with Eric Paslay and was performed by the Eli Young Band, which gained the band its second number one spot on Billboard's country chart. Hoge’s warm voice combined with his gentle guitar playing creates an extremely pleasing musical experience. He will be joined by the Bloomington IL duo, Nicotine Poetic, who just released their latest EP "A Note to Samuel."
Tickets for this show will be $20 in advance and $25 on the day of show.
Come check out this talented musician while you can!

The Saints go marching into Bloomington on Sunday, May 22nd! This fantastic show will feature the best New Orleans Jazz on the planet, right here in Illinois. For over a century jazz has been a part of America’s culture, and at the heart of it all is New Orleans and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They transcend tradition while staying true to their roots as they perform traditional New Orleans Jazz for the modern world. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band provides a musical window to the past, tailor-made for any listener. In the spirit of New Orleans, they will have you dancing, singing, clapping, and toe-tapping along to their renditions of age old classics and improvised songs setting the mood for a taste of Mardi Gras in May.
This prestigious group has performed everywhere from Japan to the White House, to the streets of the French Quarter and now, The Castle Theatre! Don’t miss your chance to see this one of a kind group for just $27 a ticket in advance or $30 on the day of the show. Doors will open at 6:30 and the band will start at 7:30. That’s it!

Matthew Curry returns to his hometown of Bloomington-Normal for the much awaited release of his EP. The 19 year singer-songwriter and guitarist plays a combination of rock and roll or blues music. Mostly self-taught, Curry has been playing the guitar since he was four. To date with his band he’s released two smoking albums:If I don’t got youin 2011 and 2013’sElectric Religion.His band includes bassist Tim Brickner, keyboardist Mike Nellas and drummer Francis Valentino.

In 2015 he was able to tour and perform alongside such as Don Felder, The Doobie Brothers and Steve Miller Band. Curry and his band was one of ten chosen to feature on the Fender Accelerator Tour last summer. The tour is known for helping bands on the rise with gear and travel expenses.

Please note that this show features the talented Matthew Curry and the release of his new EP. The show takes place on April 29th at 8pm, while doors open at 7. Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Come join us for a great time with this blues spirited musician.